'''Windows NT4:''' Windows NT4 uses a preemptive multitasking kernel and supports two CPUs and up to 4 GB RAM in the Workstation Professional version. The system is rather lightweight and requires only a 486DX2-66 and about 32 MB RAM, a Pentium system is recommended. After boot the whole Windows system uses just about 16 MB RAM. Windows NT4 has a higher stability as Windows 95.

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It was released with DirectX2 and got support for DirectX3 with the latest servicepack 6a. The user interface is the same as in Windows 95 with some additional features from Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95. However it is possible to upgrade to the user interface known from Windows 98 by installing Internet Explorer 4 with Active Desktop.

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Windows NT4 does not support Plug and Play and USB. This is usually no problem since drivers for PnP hardware bring their own configuration sheet and for mass storage USB devices third party software is available.

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For gaming Direct3D from DirectX3 is supported. However most DirectX games with accelerated 3D graphics require at least DirectX5. Still, DirectX3 allows most 2D games that use DirectDraw to run (e.g. Starcraft, Diablo e.g.). Benchmarks show that due to the different driver architecture accelerated 2D graphics is a lot faster compared to Windows 95.

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The OpenGL support from graphics card drivers for Windows NT4 is solid. Also the most important gaming 3D accelerator cards from 3dfx at this time have Glide support in Windows NT4. Thus most Glide compatible games work (e.g. Unreal engines, Quake engines).

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Any 16 bit related code like DOS programs are run in a Virtual DOS machine (NTVDM). It supports 486 code. Direct hardware calls are not possible.

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'''Windows 98:''' Best all-in-one operating system for DOS and Win9x gaming. Basically a much more refined continuation of Windows 95. Good DOS compatibility either by DOS window or rebooting into DOS. Emulates USB mouses and gamepads in DOS window as well. Has numerous features that Win95 got only with the OSR releases and which weren't present in its original release, such as support for P6 (Pentium Pro and up), FAT32, selection of IRQs, AGP, UDMA, USB and MMX.<br>

'''Windows 98:''' Best all-in-one operating system for DOS and Win9x gaming. Basically a much more refined continuation of Windows 95. Good DOS compatibility either by DOS window or rebooting into DOS. Emulates USB mouses and gamepads in DOS window as well. Has numerous features that Win95 got only with the OSR releases and which weren't present in its original release, such as support for P6 (Pentium Pro and up), FAT32, selection of IRQs, AGP, UDMA, USB and MMX.<br>

Furthermore, SSE and multiple monitor support is exclusive for Windows 98 and up. Windows 98 supports up to 512 MB RAM without tweaking, with tweaking up to 1 GB. 3rd party USB mass storage drivers, namely nusb33e, are only available for Windows 98 SE due to its newer USB stack, so this revision is by far preferable. 3rd party drivers are also available for ADSL connectivity (raspppoe).<br>

Furthermore, SSE and multiple monitor support is exclusive for Windows 98 and up. Windows 98 supports up to 512 MB RAM without tweaking, with tweaking up to 1 GB. 3rd party USB mass storage drivers, namely nusb33e, are only available for Windows 98 SE due to its newer USB stack, so this revision is by far preferable. 3rd party drivers are also available for ADSL connectivity (raspppoe).<br>

'''Windows 2000:'''<br>

'''Windows 2000:'''<br>

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'''Windows XP:''' Last OS from Microsoft so far to support game ports, MPU-401 ports, the IPX protocol, out of the box MIDI device selection and EAX 3D sound hardware acceleration through the DirectSound HAL. Generally good Win9x game compatibility. DOS only via NTVDM emulation, has basic Sound Blaster support (SFX part only).

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'''Windows XP:''' Last OS from Microsoft so far to support game ports, MPU-401 ports, the IPX protocol, out of the box MIDI device selection and EAX 3D sound hardware acceleration through the DirectSound HAL. Generally good Win9x game compatibility.

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DOS programs are run in the NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM). Basic Sound Blaster 2.0 and MPU-401 support can be enabled by adding SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3 to the autoexec.nt file. The virtual resources do not have to represent real hardware resources. The NTVDM emulation uses the default windows multimedia devices. Direct hardware access is not possible.

== External Links ==

== External Links ==

*[http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html Unofficial Win98 SE service pack with several tweaks and fixes]

*[http://exuberant.ms11.net/98sesp.html Unofficial Win98 SE service pack with several tweaks and fixes]

Revision as of 10:03, 9 April 2013

This is a list describing different Windows versions in terms of game compatibility.

Windows 3.x:Windows 95:

Windows NT4: Windows NT4 uses a preemptive multitasking kernel and supports two CPUs and up to 4 GB RAM in the Workstation Professional version. The system is rather lightweight and requires only a 486DX2-66 and about 32 MB RAM, a Pentium system is recommended. After boot the whole Windows system uses just about 16 MB RAM. Windows NT4 has a higher stability as Windows 95.
It was released with DirectX2 and got support for DirectX3 with the latest servicepack 6a. The user interface is the same as in Windows 95 with some additional features from Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95. However it is possible to upgrade to the user interface known from Windows 98 by installing Internet Explorer 4 with Active Desktop.
Windows NT4 does not support Plug and Play and USB. This is usually no problem since drivers for PnP hardware bring their own configuration sheet and for mass storage USB devices third party software is available.

For gaming Direct3D from DirectX3 is supported. However most DirectX games with accelerated 3D graphics require at least DirectX5. Still, DirectX3 allows most 2D games that use DirectDraw to run (e.g. Starcraft, Diablo e.g.). Benchmarks show that due to the different driver architecture accelerated 2D graphics is a lot faster compared to Windows 95.
The OpenGL support from graphics card drivers for Windows NT4 is solid. Also the most important gaming 3D accelerator cards from 3dfx at this time have Glide support in Windows NT4. Thus most Glide compatible games work (e.g. Unreal engines, Quake engines).

Any 16 bit related code like DOS programs are run in a Virtual DOS machine (NTVDM). It supports 486 code. Direct hardware calls are not possible.

Windows 98: Best all-in-one operating system for DOS and Win9x gaming. Basically a much more refined continuation of Windows 95. Good DOS compatibility either by DOS window or rebooting into DOS. Emulates USB mouses and gamepads in DOS window as well. Has numerous features that Win95 got only with the OSR releases and which weren't present in its original release, such as support for P6 (Pentium Pro and up), FAT32, selection of IRQs, AGP, UDMA, USB and MMX.
Furthermore, SSE and multiple monitor support is exclusive for Windows 98 and up. Windows 98 supports up to 512 MB RAM without tweaking, with tweaking up to 1 GB. 3rd party USB mass storage drivers, namely nusb33e, are only available for Windows 98 SE due to its newer USB stack, so this revision is by far preferable. 3rd party drivers are also available for ADSL connectivity (raspppoe).Windows 2000:Windows XP: Last OS from Microsoft so far to support game ports, MPU-401 ports, the IPX protocol, out of the box MIDI device selection and EAX 3D sound hardware acceleration through the DirectSound HAL. Generally good Win9x game compatibility.
DOS programs are run in the NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM). Basic Sound Blaster 2.0 and MPU-401 support can be enabled by adding SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 P330 T3 to the autoexec.nt file. The virtual resources do not have to represent real hardware resources. The NTVDM emulation uses the default windows multimedia devices. Direct hardware access is not possible.